"Go, Elemental Hero Rampart Blaster! Attack Jesse's Life Points directly!" Holographic explosions followed after the voice.
Those are not the first words I wanted to hear when I woke up that Saturday morning. I reached for my glasses, and I soon found myself opening the door to my dorm.
"Ha! That's now 46 wins to 46 wins, Jesse!" Yuki cried out from one side in front of the dorms.
"Well, I'm gonna win match number 93, J!" Anderson started shuffling his deck before Yuki did the same.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes and leaned my elbows and body weight on the bars. "You two do realize other people are sleeping right now, correct?"
The two-long-lost brothers looked up. Yuki was the first to wave. "Good morning, Wilona! You aren't usually here around this time!"
"Ms. Dorothy gave me Saturdays off." I sighed. Apparently, I can't even relax on those days off anymore. "You two are still going at it?" The two have been dueling nonstop since yesterday.
"Why not!? Jaden plays Elemental Heroes in a way I never saw before!"
"And Jesse here has so many combos he didn't even use in the tag duel!"
Look at them getting along like best friends. Poor Truesdale, first Sora now Jesse? Maybe I should keep an eye on the poor bloke.
"Shut up!" Princeton opened his door and threw his fist towards the not-twins. "Some of us are trying to sleep in! Dang, it! Why can't I go back to the Blue Droms instead of this rat-infested out-house!? The walls aren't even sound-proof!"
Seeing Princeton in the Red Droms brings up a rather unique opportunity. "Your shouting is just as abrasive as their dueling, Slifer Slacker." Oh dear, am I smirking? How unladylike.
"Witch!" I'm almost flattered by the amount of venom Princeton is throwing my way. However, he seemed distracted and moved his view down for a second. "What kind of pajama is that?"
"What?" I motioned to my clothes. "Have your elitist eyes never seen a loose white T-shirt and jogging pants?"
I stood back up straight. A morning breeze blew at that moment, but I'm fairly certain I was still decent. However, I noticed something interesting when Chazz turned away with a red face. I looked down. Curious, both Anderson and Yuki are looking away too?
... Ah?
"Princeton! How perverted!" I tried to sound scandalized, but my smile breaks my immersion. "I suppose it was only a matter of time with your beastly urges!"
"I did no such thing!" The color on Princeton's face would make Slifer jealous. Speaking off...
"And you two?" I spotted the two duelists flinch at my words. "Did you enjoy the view from down there when the wind blew?~"
"We didn't see anything! Only your stomach!" Yuki slapped his own mouth shut faster than anything I've ever seen him do.
"Oh?~" Hmm, I wonder how much I can push this? "That's too bad. If you had peeked, you two would owe me for the rest of your lives to make up for such a sin.~" A dark little joke crosses my mind. I held the bottom hem of my shirt and smiled at them. "But do you want to see?"
Several crashes echoed. I spotted Slifer students, including Truesdale and Huffington, falling in front of what remained of their doors. Perhaps I may have gone too far with that joke.
I was wondering why no one else was complaining aside from Princeton and me. I suppose that's enough playing naughty for now. However, I couldn't help but laugh at this result than the one I expected. "It appears everyone is awake then? I suppose I have other duties to attend to." I turned to walk back to my room. However, I realized something before turning on my heel. "Ah, right! Yuki, bring Anderson to the club later! Oh, and Princeton, you're free to come to my club if you wish."
"I wouldn't go to your club if it was the last bastion of safety against the zombie apocalypse!" Princeton folded his arms and gave me a stink eye that I had to admit looked very threatening.
A shame it loses all power with a little trinket. "By the way, Princeton, did you know that I kept that little black bo—"
With how his eyes were now widening, it seems he just realized I never let go of potential blackmail material. "I hate you so much!" Princeton seethed with his usual bitterness.
"Ah, Princeton, always such a flatterer." A giggle escaped me as I closed one of the few unbroken doors the dorm had left.
[Tagforce: Heroes and Villians]
"No way! You got an actual spaceman in your school!?" Anderson cried out as he met with Mr. Mokeo.
"Why go to space, man, when it just takes a lot to go there? Just gimme a beach, an umbrella, and I'm good." He relaxed to his seat as I watched three Moki Moki spirits playing with Winged Kuriboh and Ruby Carbuncle.
"Alright, everyone!" I called everyone's attention as I brought up the chalkboard. "Now that we are an officially recognized club, we have responsibilities to uphold." Ah, I forgot the general vocabulary level of my club. "As a club, we need to do projects. For example, the bakery club is promoting a bake sale when Monday comes. School clubs are required to host... we need to prove to the school that our club isn't just standing around doing nothing."
I motioned to the board. "As such, I volunteered The Music Club to help manage and host the End-Of-The-School Year dance."
Yuki raised his hand as if he was an active student in the class. "You mean like a band?"
"Yes, Yuki. We are playing like a band. That means everyone here gets to help out with planning songs and instruments to play. We'll also be choosing who will be in the band and if we need shifts and replacements since the party will be several hours long."
"Ooh! Ooh! Alexis should be the singer!" Hamaguchi volunteered the Blonde Obelisk Blue. "She's got an amazing singing voice!"
"Hey, maybe J can be the lead guitarist! He's awesome with it!" Truesdale pointed out as Yuki started to blush.
"Me? A lead guitarist!? Aww, Sy!" The two-tone brunette started to rub the back of his head.
"We should choose songs first. Professor Banner will confirm whether or not we're allowed to play certain songs."
Truesdale spoke up as he looked around. "Where is Professor Banner?"
"He's probably doing teach duties, I doubt it's anything we need to concern ourselves with." That reminds me. "Actually, we have a more immediate project. Hamaguchi, would you like to do the honors with this?"
Everyone turned to the bubbly black-haired friend of Alexis as she saluted and skipped to the stage.
"Yes! See, I told my friend, Nastsuyo Tanaka, or Nats for short! Anyway, I told her about The Music Club, but she was inspired by Wilona here to start a Drama Club!"
"Tanaka..." Makurada put a hand on her chin before her eyes widened. "Hey, Alexis, isn't she that shy girl that clams up when attention falls on her?"
"I wouldn't put it like that, but yeah. Whenever she's called in class, Nastuyo just shuts down, and the teacher has to call another person. She gets good grades in her tests, it's just Mindy here is likely the only person on the island who's ever heard her talk." Rhodes explained more.
"She's got a lot to say! You two should really listen!" Hamaguchi raised her hands to her face with a determined look. "But sadly, Nats doesn't have the courage to recruit people like Wilona does."
I distinctly noticed nearly all of my male members giving me certain looks at the mention of my recruitment tactics. Fair, I suppose.
"I wasn't going to let her down! It was her dream to be on the stage!" The black-haired girl continued with fire in her eyes. "So, I came up with a plan! We set up a play where Nats shows off her skills and makes other people want to join in on the fun! After a bit of pushing, she found the courage and said that she'd do it! ... Only if we'd help her!" Mindy added before looking to me. "I told Ms. President awhile ago, and she said that we should tell the whole club first!"
I spotted everyone in the club turn over to me.
"As everyone heard," I began. "Someone is asking a huge favor of us. I thought about it, and I came to the conclusion that we have a lot of free time except towards the end of the school year. We don't have a reason not to help. However, I won't force anyone that doesn't want to participate."
"We get to put up a play? That sounds fun!" Yuki was like the first domino. After expressing interest, nearly everyone wanted in and started talking about potential roles and dreams.
Princeton, with rare reason, spoke up, "What's the play about?"
"Ooh! Ooh! It's an original spin on the Tanabata and Kengyu fable, or as it's known in the west: Vega and Altair!" Hamaguchi was quick to explain. "Nats loves mythology and romance!"
"Wait," Princeton raised his brow. "What do you mean by original spin?"
{Tag Force: Heroes and Villains}
The Duel Academy Theather wasn't used much. Most of the time, announcements and other events were held in one of the main Duel Arenas or classrooms. The place itself was the size of a regular auditorium but with darker lighting and a stage in the center.
"Thank you so much for helping, Mindy!" Nastsuyo Tanaka could easily blend with a crowd of people, even if you were trying to search for her specifically. She had brown hair that reached the bottom of her neck that seemed round and puffier, and she had brown-colored eyes.
"Are you kidding!? Thank you for making us part of a play!" Mindy was hopping with joy.
"Hey!" Chazz walked up. "Didn't we come here to find out about the play?"
"Oh! Are you excited about it!?" Nastsuyo clapped her hands together and had bright and shining eyes. "I've decided to do a little more expansion on the rules of Vega's world!" Despite being called quiet, Nastsuyo droned on and on about potential intricacies and rules of Vega and Altair's world. Many of the club members couldn't keep up with her. However, they could all tell her passion was there, and it was infectious.
"It sounds complicated but fun!" Jaden managed to smile. It was easy to see he was one of the first people to get lost in Natsuyo's words, but he could definitely empathize with the girl about dreams.
Natsuyo blushed before tucking her hair behind her ear. "I-I mean. I basically wanted to rewrite the rules so that Vega and Altair would have a happier ending..."
"Aww! That's so cute! I'm a fan of romantic stories, Nats!" Mindy ran and grabbed the girl's hand.
Wilona stepped up. "Passion is well and good. However, do you have any plans to help you achieve your dream?"
Natsuyo flinched for a second before she seemed to steel herself. "I heard about you from Mindy! I couldn't do this on my own, but I hoped you could help me out with a plan!"
Everyone watched as Wilona seemed to pause. They waited for a second before Wilona's lips curled to a smile. "I can't say I dislike people like you. I'll help you with planning. What are your ideas, and what resources do we have?"
So, The Music Club helped with Natsuyo's plan to start her play. First, the Music Club was introduced to the many props left behind in the school. There were items like paper-mache rocks and different backgrounds for many settings. Props and backgrounds were not going to be the issue.
However, then something interesting did happen when the subject crossed the casting.
"I want to be Vega's Mother!" Natsuyo declared.
"You want to be the villain of the story?" Sora raised his brow before he took out his sucker.
"But villains are so cool! They're charismatic, powerful, and, most of the time, drive the story! I've always dreamed of playing a villainess!" Nastsuyo pulled a nearby cape and made a showy motion with it. As she did, the girl made it look like a natural.
"Well, if you're going to be Vega's mother, who is the rest of the cast going to be?" Wilona picked up a clipboard and a pen.
"I was hoping Alexis could be Vega!" Natsuyo smiled before turning away with a blush. "I-If that's alright with you."
"Me?" Alexis pointed to herself. "Why me?"
"Alexis, you're one of the prettiest girls in the school! If you had the lead part, I could attract more people to want and see the play!"
"While that was without tact, she does have a point." Everyone turned to Wilona after Natsuyo exclaimed. "You are one of the most popular people in the school, and we could piggyback on that popularity to help Natsuyo to gather members."
"Not this again! I don't want to be popular for my looks!" Alexis sighed before she turned to Natsuyo, who was looking at her with really big and pleading eyes. "... Fine! At least it can be used to benefit someone else."
Seeing little dissent from others, Wilona asked, "With Alexis being Vega, who will be Altair?"
"I can do it!" Wilona raised her brow when Bastion, Syrus, and Chazz raised their hands out at the same time.
Said three turned and looked at each other.
"Of course, I should be the one! If it's memorization, I can easily recall all the lines when necessary!" Bastion began. However, his cheeks were somewhat flushed.
"Ha!" Chazz scoffed and pointed to himself. "The male lead should be the best person among all you losers, and that is me!" For some reason, he too had flushed cheeks.
"You? I'm way more handsome than you! My mother says so!" Syrus butted in. Like the other, the smaller Truesdale brother had flushed cheeks, but his were far more noticeable.
Wilona's eyes narrowed before turning to Natsuyo. "Please chose who should be Altair."
"Actually," The brunette began. "I already had an idea of who to play Altair as well. Altair was described to be a musician and... Mindy already told me you guys had a guitarist?"
The three, who volunteered, paled. They slowly turned their attention towards The Slifer Red Ace.
"Hey, Jesse, check it out! I'm a tree!" Jaden popped his head out of a tree prop before both he and his North Academy best friend started laughing. Jaden suddenly lost balance and fell down on his butt. However, a second passed before the two, and their spirits, started laughing again.
"T-That slacker!? Can he even act!?" Chazz screamed and pointed at Jaden.
The light-green-haired club president tapped her chin with the pen she was holding. "Now that it is brought up, why not do an audition? If you posted fliers about wanting to create a play, I'm sure you'd be able to attract students rather than going through the trouble of having to borrow another club for this."
"Please, no! It was hard enough to gather courage to talk to you guys!" Natsuyo closed her face with her hands. It seemed as if her shyness was more of a problem than most realize. Handling a normal audition would probably be too much on her own.
"You're doing well with us, though?" Gloria Tyler noted.
"It's because Mindy talked about all of you, and you're all so much cooler in person!" Natsuyo removed her hands. "I basically had to psych myself for an hour before meeting you all, I'm not that good at standing on my own yet!"
"Can we get back to the matter at hand? Does Jaden even seem like the type of person who can play a lead role?!" Bastion pointed to Jaden, who was now laughing at Jesse, who was wearing a nutcracker helmet over his head.
Wilona thought of something as she focused on Winged Kuriboh. "Hmm, I have a few tests we can do." People watched as Wilona walked up to the two budding besties and dragged them both away in a private location.
Later, everyone watched Jaden walk on the stage. Alexis was given a scene and a script, but Jaden was not given a copy of the script.
What happened next surprised nearly everyone: Jaden repeating line for line the words of the scene. To people who could see and hear spirits like Chazz and Beloski, they spotted Honest speaking Jaden's lines for him.
After the scene was done, Wilona walked out from behind the curtain with Jesse.
"That trick should get Jaden to say his lines if needed to be."
"Man, this is one weird way of speaking, but it sure is fun!" Jaden laughed as he walked down the stage.
"That's pretty clever dudes," Belowski gave a slow laugh as he made himself comfortable in one of the seats. "Not everyone can see and hear what you did." Those that weren't sensitive to spirits wondered what trick Wilona pulled that allowed Jaden to memorize his lines. It was more confusing one of the drowsiest members of the club saw it when others seemingly didn't.
"He is going to try and memorize those lines though," Wilona narrowed her eyes at Jaden. The brunette could only cower under her stare before the president shook her head. "You should do it fairly. That little stunt I pulled is only going to be for emergencies."
"This can work after all!" Natsuyo practically had stars in her eyes at that moment. "I'm going to go talk with Ms. Fontaine about setting a show!"
The girl was giddy as she ran out of the theater. She got to Ms. Fontaine, who gave it the green light. This meant that Natsuyo would have her chance at recruiting members!
... That's not what quite happened though.
The Obelisk Blue girl knocked on the door of the teacher's office.
"Come in!" Ms. Fontaine's voice came through the door. When the founder of The Theatre Club walked in, she spotted Ms. Fontaine talking with the Student Body President.
However, as Ms. Fontaine looked at Natsuyo's direction, her eyes trailed up, and she ended up gasping. "Oh, dear! Is that the time?!' She stood up and turned to the purple-haired girl. "Seika dear, can you please help out that student? I'm late for a conference with the other Dorm Headmasters!"
"Don't worry, Ms. Fontaine, I got this." The Student Body President stayed as Ms. Fontaine left the room in a hurry with a quick apology to Natsuyo.
"How can I help you?" Seika asked the girl.
Natsuyo started to clam up until she inhaled deeply. She started to tell Seika about her plans with opening up a show.
Natsuyo didn't notice Seika's smile turning from calm to mischievous. "That does sound wonderful. I can approve the papers so the school can be the one to print and send fliers through the boards and online."
"Really!?" Natsuyo gasped in delight.
"Sure, how long will the production take?"
"I didn't want it to be a long play. So, I think 3 months will be good to prepare something small enough!"
Natsuyo handed a flier to Seika. The Student Body President looked at the paper and said, "Thank you, I'm looking forward to your play." The Obelisk Blue girl thanked Seika and quickly left. However, the Student Body President looked at the flier with interest.
"... The Music Club is helping out, huh?" The club with all the fun freshman?
"By the way, she said 3 weeks, right?"
[Tag Force Heroes and Villains]
"Why do the fliers say 3 weeks!?" Natsuyo screamed out in panic while Wilona, Mindy, and Alexis stood behind the girl.
"I sincerely apologize, I must have mistakenly put weeks instead of months." Seika's tone was professional even though she was the only one who purposely changed the timing.
"W-Well, can you cancel it!? Or Change it!?" The Theatre Club President begged.
"Sorry," Seika then used a lot of official jargon to basically say that she couldn't stop it. They could change the date, but that would disappoint potential newcomers and leave a bitter taste at the complications on the first show.
Natsuyo started to panic. However, Mindy soon stepped up. "Don't give up, Nats! Don't you see: this is like your story! Fate conspires against you, but you must find the courage to overthrow and defeat it just like your story!"
Natsuyo seemed to gasp. "Y-You're right, Mindy! I've been quiet my whole life! I-I refuse to be in the sidelines all my life!"
Wilona and Alexis shared a look while Mindy was inspiring the other club president. "Is it a good thing or a bad thing that Mindy can talk people into things that they may or may not like?"
The blonde Obelisk Blue shrugged her shoulders. "Mindy has always been nosy, whether for ill or better. I still can't tell after being her friend for years."
"Girls!" Natsuyo walked up to the two with fire in her eyes. "We're going to make this the best darn play Duel Academy has ever seen! Let's get to work!"
"WOOO!" Mindy shouted along with a very determined Natsuyo.
The two ran ahead, leaving Wilona and Alexis behind in the office room.
Alexis spoke up, "I'm starting to think this is one of those 'ill' situations. Think you can talk some sense to them, Wilona?"
"Rhodes, do you remember where we are?" Alexis knew that look on her friend's face. Duel Academy was a place that was filled with the likes of lab-raised duel monkeys and portals to Duel Monster worlds. That wasn't even including the jungle-man and practically-stoned teenager with the power to turn everyone else high. Alexis was even friends with those people! Wilona put it best when it came to what Alexis meant, "Sense is a moot point here; we may as well roll with the punches."
Alexis had to begrudgingly admit that a determined girl roping them to a play was one of the normal adventures this school gave out.
And so began some of the most arduous three weeks for the music club yet. One would be surprised at how things evolved in those three weeks. Damon became in charge of lightings and dropping backgrounds because he was using the catwalks like the trees back in the wild. Brier was on top of costume designs. With help from both Chummley and Beauregard, the former brain of The Duel Giant brought the costumes to life from Jaden's peasant clothes to the celestial wardrobe of Vega's home. Sora and the Tyler sisters were in charge of props and directing movement. They seemed really good at telling people how to act like anyone else. Belowski, of all people, could work fog machines and knew how to set the atmosphere of each area. Everyone else played their roles in the play while Wilona oversaw everything as a whole.
It was hard work, but at the same time, everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun.
[Tag Force Heroes and Villains]
Mrs. Fontaine hosted a soccer game for the girl's P.E. She divided the dorm into teams and hosted a miniature tournament where the first team to score a point would advance. It came to the point where there were only two teams left. Although they were only playing for a single point, it was just as tense as an actual game of soccer.
"Alexis, kick the ball over here!" Grace called out to her. Alexis did so, and the silver-haired twin caught the soccer ball with her knees and twirled past several students.
"Ooh! Grace, over here!" Mindy shouted as the opposing team started to surround the younger Tyler Sister. With one kick, Mindy now took the ball. However, Jasmine came in and stole the ball, shifting the momentum of the game.
"Sorry, Mindy! You're going to have to focus better than that!" The redhead laughed before spotting everyone converging on her. Jasmine looked ahead and screamed, "Gloria, head ups!"
She kicked the ball over people, and Gloria was quick to take race towards the goal. Like her sister, Gloria moved with speed and ferocity to dodge other girls coming her way.
"Can't let you get the game-winning point, sis!" Gloria looked to her right to see her twin sister catching up.
Gloria looked up ahead and spotted Alexis getting in position to intercept her.
Yet, Gloria smiled. "Sorry, little sis, I just had to make sure everyone else was out of position! Here!" The blonde Tyler Sister kicked hard to the left: where the soccer ball was caught stopped by Wilona.
Wilona ran up before Alexis blocked her path towards the goalie.
The green-haired girl quickly stomped on the ball to halt it. "Rhodes, ready to concede defeat?"
Alexis returned a smirk to her best friend. "To paraphrase a mutual friend: the game isn't over till a point is scored!"
Wilona narrowed her eyes before kicking the ball towards Alexis. The two showed amazing footwork as Alexis tried to steal while Wilona attempted to pass by the Obelisk Blue Girl.
However, Wilona misjudged her strength and let the ball roll out in the open. Both girls ran for it, and Wilona thought to dive with a slide.
She did this idea a second too late. Instead of hitting the ball, her slide kicked Alexis's foot while her other leg was up. This caused Alexis to trip over hard.
"AGGHH!?"
The game stopped. Wilona's eye widened as she went up to her friend. "Rhodes!?"
Ms. Fontaine called the game off. Little did anyone know that fall threatened more than a game.
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villains]
"Alexis!? Are you alright!?" Jaden was the first one in the nurse's office after hearing the news. However, nearly everyone else was tied for second place as they came in after him.
"Jaden, I'm alright. It's thankfully just a sprained ankle." Alexis calmed everyone else while she sat on the bed. Her right ankle was wrapped up in bandages and a light cast.
Wilona sighed as she put a hand on her head. "I apologize, Rhodes."
"You didn't mean to do it. To be honest, that was a good move you pulled off," Alexis said. "I already forgave you the other dozen or so times you've apologized. Consider us even for back at Winter Break."
Bastion suddenly brought something up. "I mean no disrespect when I ask this, but you are aware the play is tomorrow, correct?"
Natsuyo shrieked at that revelation. She was so worried about Alexis that she forgot about her play! "W-What are we going to do!? Alexis can't act! W-Will we have to cancel the play!?"
"After all our hard work?" Chazz whined before he was elbowed in the hip by Bastion and Damon.
This sparked a massive conversation between everyone. However, Alexis started to realize something. "Hey!" Her scream got everyone's attention. "I think we can still make this work."
"How?" Jasmine asked.
Alexis looked over to Wilona, which surprised the light-green-haired girl. "Wilona, the trick you used with Jaden early on, you can use that for the lines."
Those sensitive to spirits realized a Duel Spirit could feed lines to Wilona in case she didn't know the lines. Not only that, but she was also the only other female who could sense duel spirits.
Wilona turned to Natsuyo. "Will you be okay with me?"
"Are you crazy!?" Mindy gasped as she stepped forward... then she grabbed both Wilona's hands and gave the biggest smile on her face. "I have always dreamed of giving you a makeover! Now, I get to do so while saving the day!? If Alexis wasn't hurt, this would be the best day of my life!"
Mindy surprised everyone as she took charge. "Alright, everyone! We've prepared 3 grueling weeks for this, and we're not letting a little thing called life get in our way of Nats' passion project!"
"Mindy, I appreciate this, but we really don't need..."
"Nats, Jasmine, Alexis, and I will stay behind and give Wilona the biggest maker in the world!" At this point, Mindy had transformed into an unstoppable force. It seemed like she was more infected with the idea of defying fate more than the Theatre President.
"Uh, Mindy?" Jaden raised a finger.
This proved to be a slight problem as the usually bubbly girl gave a rather intimidating glare. "What are you all waiting for!? Get to your battle stations! We're in a warzone, soldier!"
"Yes, mam!" The boys cried out before leaving the room.
Mindy turned to Wilona with an excited look in her eyes.
"... Hamaguchi, do you, by chance, take pupils?" Alexis deadpanned as the Slifer Red girl was more impressed with intimidation tactics than anything else.
"I haven't had pupils thanks to my new skin lotion!" Despite mistaking pimples for pupils, it was at that moment that Mindy became one of the most dangerous airheads in the school. She then started to drag Wilona out of the Nurse's office. "Come on! I've had ideas of doing your hair ever since we met!"
Wilona seemed a little taken back being on the backseat for once. Alexis almost wondered if spraining her ankle was worth seeing the look on her friend's face.
[Tag Force: Heroes and Villians]
It was the opening and final night of Duel Academy's version of Vega and Altair. The theater filled to the brim with students and faculty of all members.
Behind the curtain, the Music Club started to get pre-show jitters.
"Holy! Those sure are a lot of people!" Jesse exclaimed after peeking through the curtain.
"We have performed in front of large audiences before," Bastion spoke up before he started to think about what he said. "Then again, those were in dueling, and we were comfortable there."
"I haven't seen Wilona yet. What's taking her so long?" Jaden asked. "I was hoping we could rehearse a few lines."
"Looks like you're going to have to do it in the fly." Brier looked at his PDA. "Wilona just sent a message to all of us saying that Mindy is doing some last-minute touches. She's going to arrive when the play starts."
"That's right now," Sora stepped up and fixed his fancy yet cute suit. "I'll hype them up to buy them time, but everyone better get in position!"
With that, Sora stepped out, "Ladies and Gentlemen!" He did a grand and showy gesture. "How is everyone tonight?!" Sora talked with them a bit, giving a short summary of what the play was about and potentially recruiting future club members. Sora brought time that allowed Mindy to arrive. The black-haired girl exclaimed Wilona was in position. They were ready to start.
Grace motioned to Sora, who made one last bow and began the play...
Alexis began narrating the play as the set opened up. She told the tale.
"A long time ago, in a period where the star shown brightly at night, there were three sons. The sons recently lost their parents and divided their inheritance among them. However, the youngest among them, Altair, was left with only an old bull."
The story began with Jaden crossing the land with his 'bull'. Dimitri was very annoyed that his copying talents were wasted on the bull role, but he did his job. The play showed Altair's plight as he left home with the bull to make a simple farmer's life.
But Altair had a passion for music and played a lovely tune on his guitar one day he was wondering the nearby forest.
Altair stopped strumming his instrument when he heard something. "Who's there? Show yourself!?" He demanded.
Behind prop bamboo, a figured in a large cloak entered the stage.
"I mean no harm." In Jaden's mind, he was relieved to hear Wilona taking Alexis' role as if she was the one who practiced it. "Please, forgive me, stranger, but I was simply... entranced by your melody. Can you humble this stranger by playing once more?"
"I see." Jaden would never get used to talking this formally. Thankfully this was the last time he would this month. "Take off your hood and sit down, stranger. I will play a little longer."
Wilona did so...
Now, the play went like this: when "Vega" removed her hood, Altair was supposed to stop whatever he was doing and stare at her as if she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.
The thing was, most of the audience did that for Jaden when Wilona removed her hood.
Mindy wasn't kidding when she gave Wilona a makeover. Her hair was styled in a Chinese Bun, the makeup she wore gave off this heavenly look that made her really feel that she came from out-of-this-world. Jaden had always seen Wilona wearing a cap or with glasses, but looking straight into her eyes made him forget that he was acting.
"Sir?" Wilona's voice brought Jaden back down to earth. "Is something the matter?"
"Nop—No," Jaden coughed. He almost defaulted to slang again. "No. There is not. B-Before I begin, allow me to introduce myself: I am Altair. May I ask for your name?"
Wilona gave a soft smile. "I am Vega."
And Jaden started to play once more. The play went on as Vega and Altair interacted more. Syrus, playing a 'servant' of Vega, was introduced shortly after the two met.
Then, Natsuyo was introduced as Vega's mother. On the stage, she was practically a completely different person. She was charismatic, charming, and difficult to look away from. As Vega's mother, she noticed her daughter becoming more and more distracted, even dismissing potential suitors. She spied on her daughter and then became furious as she got close to a lowly mortal, a cow herder at that!
She used her powers to forcibly steal Vega away, revealing her identity to Altair. After a realization, it is shown that Vega blessed Altair's Bull with the ability to reach the heavens. Altair realized his love for Vega, and he rushed with The Bull towards the Heavens to get her back.
Seeing this, Vega's mother used her powers to create a barrier of stars, The Milky Way, to stop him and his Bull.
The original folklore ends with Vega's Father creating a bridge of magpies for the two to meet every once in a while. However, this is where Natsuyo started to take creative inspiration. Vega's loyal servant, played by Syrus, is trying to find a weakness in The Mother's Spell. However, he is in trouble when Vega's old suitor finds him. The suitor, played by Chazz, plans to poison the Vega's father, played by Bastion, and become the new Sky Emperor.
The story unfolds as Altair meets a Heavenly Bird Cygnus, played by Jesse. Cygnus can grant passage through the Milky Way, but at the price that Altair can never return home.
Altair declares his love for Vega, and soon the three make way to Vega's Kingdom. However, The Suitor has successfully poisoned The Sky Emperor and has temporarily taken control despite not being married to Vega just yet.
Altair and his two friends find the Kingdom in disarray. However, the outsiders are met by The Suitor, who is able to throw them into a dungeon where Vega's servant is. Vega's Servant reveals The Suitor's true ploy, and the only way to stop him now is to cure the Emperor.
Time is running short as The Suitor announces his forced marriage to Vega. Altair manages to escape through heavenly prison with the help of his Bull, Cygnus, and Vega's Servant.
The Climax of the play begins as Altair flees from guards and Vega's Mother. With the help of his friends, he is lead to a secret chamber where The Suitor held the cure.
Vega's mother catches him with her magic and attempts to kill Altair. However, Vega arrives and stops her mother with her own magic. Vega surprises everyone by being strong enough to incapacitate her mother. With him explaining what is going on, and a brief tender moment between the two reuniting, Vega and Altair race to the Sky Emperor to cure him.
The Suitor tries one more time to stop Altair, by using a spell of his own to subdue Vega and Altair's allies. Yet, Altair uses his brain and tricks The Suitor into allowing him to play a song. The song is so good, The Suitor closes his eyes and does not realize Altair is sneaking towards The Emperor with the cure.
Altair moves fast since he cannot use one hand to play music. The Suitor realizes the trap and attempts to blast Altair to nothingness. However, Altair is protected by a revived Sky Emperor.
The Sky Emperor is rightfully angry after learning the truth and banishes The Suitor and his followers. However, Vega's Mother is still furious at the idea of their daughter falling in love with a lowly mortal. She threatens to send him back to the mortal world. Because of the deal that Altair made with Cygnus, he cannot return to the mortal realm and will be instead cast to the void between worlds. Vega begs for Altair to be spared, or else she will be banished with him.
Yet, there was no need for these dramatics. The Sky Emperor had already spotted a loophole that would satisfy everyone. The man, Altair, had braved heaven and powers beyond him to save the one he loved and others from a cruel fate. Such bravery should be rewarded; as such, Altair was turned into The God of Music by The Sky Emperor.
Now, after all their trials and tribulation, Altair was to be wed to Vega.
The final scene of the play was everyone gathering around for the bride and the groom. With a final vow from the Sky Emperor, the two leaned in to kiss.
Yet, the curtains closed before the two could lock lips. When the curtains closed, The Music Club actors all let go and sighed in varying levels of utter relief. They also heard a standing ovation from behind the curtain.
"Thank you, everybody!" Sora went back on stage, carrying a mic. "Please give a warm welcome to everyone who worked so hard on the play!" The curtains all rose back up, and everyone, even the backstage people, started to bow at the adulation. "Now, please be sure to sign up for The Theatre Club for those interested! Thank you, and good night!"
Everyone backstage talked and talked about the night.
"Great job, Jaden, you did very well." Bastion started to remove his gear as he said this.
"You guys did great too! I was worried about myself a couple of times!" If it wasn't for Winged Kuriboh, Honest, and Jesse's spirits, Jaden felt like he would have messed that up for sure.
Syrus walked up to them, "I was surprised when Wilona removed her hood! Mindy really knows how to do makeup!"
Jaden paused as he looked over to Wilona laughing with the girls. He certainly never saw Wilona like that before tonight.
"Ms. Konami?" Professor Banner walked in with a rather distressed look on her face.
"Professor Banner?"
"I-I must congratulate you on a very well done performance. But may I have a word with you in private?"
Wilona looked to the others. "I'll catch up with you all later. Natsuyo, you should go and see those recruitment forms." The light green-haired girl followed the Professor.
"Hey, guys! How about one more standing ovation!?" Sora shouted. The others all went out, but Jaden stayed behind.
He didn't know why, but he followed after Professor Banner. Jaden peeked around the corner of the hallway, where Professor Banner and Wilona were talking. Jaden couldn't hear anything, but he saw another look on Wilona's face that he never saw before: she looked horrified.
Professor Banner tried to reach out to her, but Wilona quickly ran, not even caring that she was still in Vega's Wedding Dress.
Jaden ran up to Professor Banner. "Professor, what's wrong?"
"I'm afraid it's terrible news, Jaden," The Professor sighed. "We just received a call that Wilona's mother was rushed to the hospital."
"W-What happened!?" Jaden was shocked to hear Wilona's mother was sent to the hospital.
"Before she came here, Mrs. Konami was already weak and ill. However, her illness seemed to grow worse until the point of needing to be rushed to the hospital. The hospital informed us that she... isn't in good condition."
Jaden looked to where Wilona ran. He knew the school pathways enough to know that the only place Wilona could run to without being seen was...
"I gotta go, Professor!" Jaden was off. He raced towards the roof, and he spotted Honest waiting at the last flight of stairs.
"... To think, I would see this again." Honest began.
"What do you mean?"
"Before Yusuke put me away, he too lost both his parents. It changed him in a way that scared me. I fear I see the same thing happening with Wilona."
"I-I don't..." Jaden gripped his fist and looked down to the ground. This wasn't like the shadow games where he could duel something to submission. This was real life; sometimes, you didn't get to live a great life as others.
"Jaden," Honest began and placed a hand on his shoulder. "When Yusuke was alone, he closed himself up. I do not wish for history to repeat itself. Although Wilona may not want it, please be there for her. I do not wish to lose another friend."
Jaden nodded and raced up to the roof. When he did, he never noticed how amazing the view was at the roof at night. He was always here only during the day. The stars looked almost mystical, like how the play said the stars would look like.
However, Jaden listened closely as he heard quiet and muffled sobbing under the once-in-a-life-time sky.
Behind a pillar near the edge off the roof, Wilona was balled up and sobbing up a storm.
Jaden didn't know what to say. But he knew he didn't want to leave her alone. So he sat a little next to her and just looked up to the sky.
Wilona's sobs started to slow down. She lifted her head up, and the make up she had in the play that made her look beautiful was ruined. She looked, felt, and was a mess.
"D-Do you know why," She gasped. "Do y-you know why I need money so bad?"
Jaden was quiet as Wilona tried to fight the sobbing.
"I-I need money because-...because everything has to go to my mom's weak constitution." Through many broken sobs and gasps, Wilona described that she had to get a job young because her mom was too ill to work anymore. One time, for her birthday, Wilona wanted a doll so bad that her mom missed medication for a week. She hated how much her mother suffered during that week and sold her doll for painkillers.
It clicked for Jaden as to why Wilona was so ambitious for money. It wasn't because she was greedy. She wanted a rich job so she could finally pay the best doctors to cure her mother.
"My mother was the only one there for me! I-If she's gone... who will be there for me!?" Wilona gasped through sobs. It was the reason why she went through all of these dangerous and crazy adventures here in Duel Academy, why she went through so much trouble even if it meant people hating her, and why she was all alone at her worst moment.
Well, not alone.
"Hey, I'm here." Jaden found himself moving closer and giving the girl a hug. "Heck, the others will be there for ya, too! And if not, I'll be there! I promise!"
Wilona seemed to still before her crying started again. She just cried, an ugly and loud cry while using Jaden's shoulder.
Under the beautiful night sky, Jaden was there for his friend when she needed it.
However, he made a promise that he should have never made.
[Author Notes]
This chapter came out of nowhere. I originally wanted to pick up right for the Shadow Game Trials. Maybe have characters interact with each other and have some fun before things kicked up. However, as I started to write the beginning for fun, this idea wrote itself out.
I was stunned at how much it flowed and allowed me to push things I wanted in this story that I didn't fully plan yet.
Some notes:
-Natsuyo Tanaka is actually a random NPC that I looked up in the Tag Force GX games. Her picture is a little hard to find, but it exists.
-The reason why Wilona shares a P.E. Class with the Obelisk Blue Girls is that she's the only girl in Slifer Red. Ms. Fontaine brings her in, and she's already made friends with the ones in the club.
-I will admit Natsuyo had my own personal touch. I love mythology and folklore, and my love for Fanfiction reflects how I want to re-write certain stories for my own like.
-As much as I would love to write out the actual play, I do not have the patience to drag that out for more than one chapter. I doubt all of you would as well. Another thing was that I had to summarize a lot in this chapter because I feel like I couldn't pull the details quite right. Like how Wilona confessing her reasons to Jaden because she was desperate for something. I couldn't have her properly explain it because she was not emotionally capable of explaining that well.
- I wanted another chapter where the characters just act like kids and have fun.
- I gave Mindy a bigger role in this chapter. I thought: hey, Mindy could use some love and representation besides being the girl who crushes on everyone.
- And in case I was being too ambiguous, this is a slow-burn paring in this fic. If you haven't guessed yet, then I will reveal more hints as they come. They will probably get less subtle as time goes on. But there are several things I am respecting when I'm writing this pairing.
-Overall, I had fun with this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it as well.
See ya guys soon.
